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Hospital Packing List: What To Pack For The Birth Of Your Baby

One of my girlfriends is about to have a baby. She was packing her hospital bag and I told her that I have a packing list that I can share. Many of the girls in my mothers group loved this list so I thought I’d share it here on the blog too. You can download the packing list as an excel template which means you will be able to edit and change it to suit your own needs.

TOP 5 THINGS TO PREPARE FOR

I originally wrote this packing list while I was pregnant with my first baby. I had no idea what to expect or what I would need. Now that I’m on the flip side there are a few things that really stood out for me as “important”.

I am so glad I packed the above items. Thank you to the girls in my mothers group for recommending them to me.

WARNING

A bit of a warning here… this list is really really long! It is a comprehensive list that I have collaborated from the advice of my friends, family and mothers groups. Every time somebody suggests an item, I add it to the list. Not all items are appropriate for everyone. I encourage you to look through the list and just pick and choose what is appropriate for you. Everybody is different and every birth is different. This is simply a useful guide for those who like to be organised.

I have added in my “post-pregnancy” commentary where appropriate.

I hope this helps you during your own pregnancy!

WHAT TO PACK FOR THE BIRTH OF YOUR BABY:

There are a few different bags to pack and other things to have around before all the action begins. I have split the lists up in to different sections:

Car Stuff – Items to leave in the car from 36 weeks onwards

At Home Stuff– Items to have at home for labour preparation & pain management. You want to stay at home for as long as possible. Delay going to hospital until you feel ready.

Birth Bag – The birth bag is a back pack or something that is easy for your partner (or support person) to throw over the shoulder and run with. No wheels, nothing too big, small enough to keep in the car at all times. I also had a second “birth bag” (Woolies Chiller Bag) for food and snacks.

Your Hospital Bag– A medium size suitcase on wheels, that is easy to pull or push and doesn’t take up too much space (the hospital rooms are not very big and they don’t have much storage space).

Partner’s Hospital Bag (Support Person’s Bag) – Overnight bag for his stay at the hospital. Please note that not all hospitals allow for partners to stay over at night. So, if they are not staying, then you don’t really need to worry about this bag.

Baby’s Hospital Bag – A nappy bag style bag for all of the baby’s clothes and toiletries.

I have also listed a few items of WHAT NOT TO PACK and WHAT TO HAVE AT HOME for when you come home with your new baby.

KEEP IN THE CAR – FROM 36 WEEKS ONWARDS

Car seat protector – in case your waters break while you are driving or in the car. I got mine from Kmart.

Large white towel -If your waters break while you are travelling to the hospital use a white towel. It will help record the colour of the fluid so that you can show the midwives.

AT HOME

Bucket or spew bag – Handy in case of vomiting

Plastic tarp or bed coveror towel for your bed – Use in the final few weeks in case your waters break over night while you are in bed. This will protect your bed mattress. You may like to keep one in the car too. I got a protector from Kmart.

Gatorade/PowerAde – recommended by some midwives to keep you hydrated as it restores electrolytes.

Fit ball – good for the final 4-6 weeks. Helps to get the baby in to “position” and good for movement during labour

Heat packs – heat will help with pain and cramps

Hot towels – 0ld cloth nappies, terri towels are good for this. Dip in boiled water. Use gloves so you don’t burn your hands. The heat will help with pain and cramps.

Timer/Stop Watch/Phone App – to time contractions/surges.

Hot Water Bottles – heat will help with pain and cramps.

Last Minute Bag List – all the items that still need to be packed or last minute packing e.g. phones, keys, chargers.

Contact List – Professional help and & support including: ABA, Lactation Consultant, OB, GP, Pediatrician, Acupuncturist. Stick this list on your fridge! It should be a quick reference tool for when you get home from the hospital.

Emergency Contact List Including – Hospital, OB, GP, Birth Team, Hubby, Back Up Driver, Taxi. Stick this to the fridge, just in case you are home with a friend or family member and they need to do the calling for you.

BIRTH BAG

For You:

Clothes you plan to give birth in – but most people are naked even if they have intentions to wear something. I wore an Intimo LBD dress/skirt but then I had to change in to a hospital gown to have an emergency caesarean.

Swim togs – this might be important for a sense of privacy during the early stages of labour, if you are video recording or if you are planning a water birth. However, most people are naked even if they have intentions to wear something.

Dressing gown – to travel from the birth suite to the room.

**You don’t need any of these items if you have a caesarean (planned or emergency) as you will be in surgery clothes.

For Your Partner:

Closed in shoes for your partner – in case of a caesarean as it is a surgery room requirement.

Boardies for your partner – so that he can get in the shower with you while the midwives are helping.

Change of clothes for your partner (undies, singlet, t-shirt, shorts) for after the shower or in case he has to come straight from work or in case you vomit or something disgusting happens.

Any medication your partner needs e.g. Ventilin for Asthma

Equipment

Last Minute list – All the items that still need to be packed or last minute packing e.g. phones, keys, chargers

Birth Plan/Preferences x 4-5 copies -Hubby, Midwives, OB + Back Up

Hospital ID number – save in your phone for checking in to the hospital

Call list – People you want to call/text when baby is born

Camera + Camera Charger- small waterproof point & shoot – For water proof photos or in case phone batteries die. (To be honest, my iphone takes AMAZING photos, I wouldn’t bother with a camera now. Not unless I was having a water birth and really wanted the underwater pics).

Ipod docking station/speakers or a connector cord – Check with your hospital to see if one is available in the room. Otherwise take your own for music.

Antibacterial Hand Gel – For the trip to the hospital – just in case. The hospital should have antibacterial gel available for you to use throughout your stay but it is also good to keep one at home and in your nappy bag to cleanse your hands before/after nappy changes.

Optional Laxative/Enema – To prevent doing number 2 when pushing out the baby.

Face washers x 2 different colours – To cool the forehead and to sooth the perineum. Use two colours to avoid confusion.

Flushable Wipes – To keep clean after going to the toilet. Also good for recovery period after birth – see “my bag list”. Please note that flushable wipes are not always “flushable”. Put them in the bin like pads/nappies/baby wipes to avoid clogging up your pipes at home or at the hospital. If you want to be more environmentally friendly, use cold wash cloths instead.

Pain management list – ABC cheatsheet for hubby – A list of all pain relief options and strategies that I have planned and practiced. This is a cheat sheet for hubby & midwives.

Stress ball – squeeze & relax

Tennis ball – for your partner to use to rub your back

TENS machine – Pain relief machine (I borrowed one of these machines from a family member. It was great to use at home during labour. However you wouldn’t need to take it to the hospital with you).

TENS machine – extra pads

Water bottle – to drink water

Water bottle – To spray water on the face and back during labour. A few drops of doTERRA Essential Oils can be soothing.

Post Birth Evaluation:

When I was packing my hospital bag I had the philosophy that I would take along everything and then decide what I needed on the day. For me, it was better to have choice rather than to not have an item available it I wanted it.

I was in labour for 4 days but then ended up having an emergency caesarean. For this reason the list changed a lot for me. I used a lot of the items in my “birth bag” at home during the early hours of labour and I only took a few small items with me to the hospital. I kept in my hands a small cross made from onyx, a bag of pure lavender and I listened to my hypnobirthing tracks over and over again… at home, in the car, at the hospital and during the surges. And… I had my husband with me. He was amazing. He coached me through every step, he knew how to help me with my pain management techniques and he remembered all of the skills that we learn’t together in our classes.

I didn’t use the tennis ball or any of the massage oils. I forgot to take the small waterproof camera (which didn’t matter because I wasn’t allowed to have a shower or get in the bath anyway) and I didn’t finish my vision board in time since my baby was born a little earlier than expected and I thought I still had time to complete it.

As I said earlier, the items on this list are not for everyone. It is just a list of ideas. Pick and choose what is right for you.

YOUR HOSPITAL BAG

Maternity bras with clips for breastfeeding – bras which are supportive and easy to take off to feed baby.

Pants/Yoga Pants/ or PJ Pants – High pants, just in case you have a caesarean – no hipsters that might rub on the scar. You will want to change clothes twice a day to feel fresh. I loved Cotton On Body pants. They were really comfy.

Cardi/cover up jackets – Especially if it is winter. Hospitals can get cold because of the air conditioning.

Cheap black undies that you can throw away – LOTS! Minimim 10-15 pairs – So they can be thrown away after stains from bleeding after birth. (I used these undies but didn’t stain them or need to throw them away. They were fine to reuse however lots of other girls say that they throw them away.)

Going home outfit – Something comfortable to wear and something that you can easily feed in. (I totally stuffed this up. The going home outfit I chose covered my shoulders and boobs. I had to take the dress off to feed. This made it very inconvenient to pack up our hospital room and go home in sync with baby’s feed times. I didn’t realise that absolutely everything I wear from now on will need to be feeding friendly – now I know).

Pj’s – button up and high waisted or slip on nighties – Easy open access for breastfeeding. No hipsters just in case you have a caesarean, you don’t want the pants to sit on your scar. Slip on nighties are easy for going to the toilet a lot.

Slippers with rubber sole and that are easy to slip on – no back. For walking to the toilets and around the hospital. No back on the slippers because you don’t want to bend over to put shoes on.

Socks – Keep your feet warm in bed. The hospital air conditioning can get really cold.

Thongs – For the hospital shower (especially if you are sharing a shower with other room mates)

Baby photos of me & hubby (or digital on our phones) – Visitors will ask who does the baby look like? Mum or Dad? Baby photos will help with this debate.

Orthodox Icons/Religious Momentums – To put in the room, near the baby.

Salt – Warning: This might hurt – be sure to check with your doctor/midwife first: Splash salt water on your vaginal area several times a day. It is a disinfectant and helps with the healing process if you have any tears from a vaginal birth.

Fibre supplements: prunes, colxyl, laxatives – To help with pooing in the days after birth. (I actually drank a glass of pear juice each morning with breakfast! It was much nicer than any other option and it works really well!!)

Tissues – there may be some crying in the room, especially on day 3/4 when the baby blues kick in. Or for emotional grandparents, friends and family members.

Flushable wipes – A little bit softer than toilet paper, feels cleaner after bleeding, also good for cleaning scars from caesarean. **EDIT Flushable wipes are AMAZING! Seriously. I much preferred to used them rather than toilet paper. I got the one that was easy to pull out in the packet and used them at home for a while afterwards as well. To keep clean after going to the toilet. Also good for recovery period after birth – see “my bag list”. Please note that flushable wipes are not always “flushable”. Put them in the bin like pads/nappies/baby wipes to avoid clogging up your pipes at home or at the hospital. If you want to be more environmentally friendly, use cold wash cloths instead.

Make up, GHD, hair brush, hair dryer, hair ties – Check with your hospital to see if they provide a hair dryer or not.

Lansinoh nipple cream – To sooth sore nipples from breastfeeding

Maternity Pads x 4-6 packets with wings – For bleeding after birth.

Moisturising body cream – To help you feel good a few days after.

Plastic bags – For dirty clothes etc.

Soft toilet paper – Because the hospital toilet paper is not nice – especially after birth. The softer the better!

Ural – Pain relief after birth when trying to pee.

PARTNER’S BAG

Change of clothes x 2-3 days

Pj’s – because the midwife said that “husband’s are not allowed to sleep naked in the hospital” lol.

Shoes

Singlets

Socks

Tracksuits/Jumpers

Undies

Phone

Phone Chargers

Protein Bars/Shakes/Shaker Bottles – because my husband is a body builder and he eats a lot of food

Medication

Cash – Money for coffee, food etc

Wallet

Body Wash

Cleansers, Moisturisers, Deodorants, Fragrance

Toothbrush, Toothpaste, Shaving Razor & Cream and Other Toiletries

Hair Gel, Hair Brush

BABY’S BAG

Baby coat hangers – To hang baby clothes in wardrobe

Bath towel – extra soft – Use the hospital towel or take your own.

Beanies – Colour options for boy or girl

Blanket x 2-3 -It will be colder in winter – muslin wraps might not be enough. Use to cover the baby at night or for the trip home.

Onesies – Size 000 x 1-2 – A onesie that is slightly bigger just in case the baby is big. (edit: i wouldn’t bother taking 000 outfits. Not unless you know that your baby is going to be in the large percentile. Both of my babies were 6 months old before they got to 000 sizing.

Onesies – Size 0000 x 1-2 (edit: again I wouldn’t bother taking 0000 outfits unless you know your baby will big a big baby. Ask your OB/Midwife at your next check up. Also consider the size of you and your partner. Are you big people? Were you big babies? However I personally only needed 00000 for both of my babies).

Onesies – Size 00000 x 6-10 you will need 1-2 outfits per day. Average hospital stay is 3/4 days or 5 days for a caesarian. Check if your hospital has a washing machine that you can use. If you don’t have enough clothes you can just wash while you are there. I love Bonds Two-Way Zippies because you can open up just the bottom half for a nappy change which is great in winter to keep the baby warm up top. Also much quicker than doing up buttons and press studs. However… make sure that you also pack at least 1 button up onesie (read this blog post to understand why it is so important).

Swaddle wraps, muslin wraps or sleeping bag – The hospital will have their own wraps and blankets to use for the baby. However some mums prefer to use their own. If you are getting a swaddle wrap/sleeping bag check the head size and make sure it is appropriate for a newborns. Also check the TOG and ensure it is the right material for the season – hot/cold.

Here is a helpful guide by Grobag explaining the size you need and recommended TOG for the temperature: GroBag Size Guide

Here is a blog post I published explaining the reason why I took my own baby blankets to the Hospital:

Baby wipes – For changing nappies and cleaning baby’s bum. Edit: Wipes are usually provided by the hospital so no need to pack them in your bag. But you will need them!

Here is a good article listing all the different types of baby wipes and giving them a rating. I changed my preferred brands of wipes because of this article: Safe Natural Baby Wipes Cheat Sheet

Bath wash – small travel bottle size – To wash the baby in the hospital Edit: Again the hospital has special soap for the babies first bath. No need to take any. In fact it is best to use just water in the first few weeks of life. You baby will not need a bath every day. Every 2/3 days is more than enough.

Cotton buds/Cotton balls – For cleaning/drying baby after a bath or during a nappy change and for drying ears.

Dummy – Not sure if I’ll use it… but just in case.

MCN 3-4 newborn sizes + liners, clips – To try. If I like them I will get more. WARNING: Do not use MCN with the baby’s first poos. The meconium will stain the cloths. Best to wait for day 4 or 5 before starting. Or use lots of bamboo liners to protect the cloth.

Note: if you plan to use modern cloth nappies for your baby then be aware that there are two main sizes: newborn mcn for the first 6 weeks ish and osfm – one size fits most. You will need the newborn size to start off with or get prefolds as a starting point.

Disposable Nappies x 1 packet -The hospital provides 1 packet of disposable nappies and that should be plenty. Check with your hospital and see if you need to take your own nappies or if they are provided. I always keep the extra packet of nappies in the car “just in case”.

Coconut Oil – and/or pawpaw ointment, olive oil, bepanthen – they all do a similar job – good for baby’s bum and cleaning up first poo. Also recommended for baby’s dry skin on day 3 or 4. However I wouldn’t use any type of nappy rash creams on the baby in first weeks of life. It should stay as natural as possible. Check your products and make sure they are 100% natural before putting it on baby. Don’t use a coconut oil spray that is blended with other harsh chemicals. This is not good for your baby’s bum.

WHAT NOT TO PACK

DT’s for hubby – The midwives request boardies instead of DT’s on the men lol. I thought this was funny 🙂

Candles – Not permitted by the hospital – check with your hospital and confirm

Heat packs – Not permitted by the hospital – check with your hospital and confirm.

Oil burner for aromatherapy – Once the smell is in the room, you can’t get it out. It’s better to dab a bit of oil on a tissue/hankie and sniff as needed.

Fragrance/Perfume – don’t wear perfume around your baby. Tell your partner not to wear it either. Perhaps you might even mention it to your guests too. Your baby has a very sensitive scent of smell and needs to learn your natural smell especially for establishing breastfeeding.

HAVE AT HOME AFTER HOSPITAL

Food! Freezer meals. Lots. Or have a take-away/home delivery list of numbers and menus on your fridge. Or organise lite n’ easy or youfoodz for a month.

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